Juan Acosta

Retired Assistant Director for Field Operations

DHS ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO)

Respected and accomplished leader in national security, public safety and border security. A prior member of the Senior Executive Service with over 25 years of federal law enforcement experience leading cross component operational strategy and execution in a results driven environment focusing on resilient solutions for complex missions.

ERO Field Office Director - El Paso
• Led the ERO El Paso Field Office in its mission to
protect the homeland through the detection,
encounter, arrest, detention and removal of aliens
who undermine the safety of our communities and the
integrity of our immigration law.
• Responsible for a budget of nearly $130 million and
operational leadership of more than 266 law
enforcement officers, 43 support personnel and over
1000 contract staff at 7 offices throughout the 18
westernmost counties of Texas and all of New Mexico.
• Partnered with Federal, State and Local officials to
prepare and respond to an unprecedented
immigration surge at the Southwest Border.
• Principal oversight of full-scope immigration
enforcement activities and programs that identify,
arrest, prosecute, detain and remove aliens without a
legal basis to remain in the United States.
• Directed operations of 25 ICE Enforcement and
Removal Operations (ERO) Field Offices nationally
consisting of 208 Sub-Offices and an expansive
detention, transportation and removal enterprise.
• Senior ICE official at the DHS Southwest Border
Coordination Center (SBCC) leading a whole of
government approach to the sunsetting of Title 42, a
CDC public health order deployed during the COVID19
pandemic to help prevent the spread of the disease,
to prepare, plan and execute a strategy for national
border security and preparedness.
• Developed and deployed strategic technological
applications that facilitate migrant processing, case
jurisdictional transfer and migrant ground and air
transportation at the speed of mission.

Other Key Leadership Roles
• ERO Deputy Field Office Director - El Paso Field Office
• ERO Officer In Charge - Miami Field Office
• ERO Acting Assistant Attached- US Embassy - Mexico
• ERO Tactical Supervisor - Special Response Team
• INS/DHS CBP Supervisory Border Patrol Agent

Awards
• 2024 DHS Secretary's Gold Medal
• 2023 DHS Secretary's Commendation
• 2022 DHS Secretary's Award - Team Excellence
• 2022 ICE Director's Award - Core Values

Event Participation